New game that divides Muslims: Shiites and Salafis

The “First Asia Pacific Countries Muslim Religious Leaders Summit” organized by the Religious Affairs Administration was ended with the final declaration read by the President of Religious Affairs Administration Gormez.

The “First Asia Pacific Countries Muslim Religious Leaders Summit” organized by the Religious Affairs Administration was ended with the final declaration read by the President of Religious Affairs Administration Gormez.

125 religious representatives from 37 countries have participated in the program at Istanbul. President of Religious Affairs Administration Gormez said: “The tensions which are ignited through Shiism and Salafism, interventions and searches which will turn the reality of Islam world are threatening the unity of ummah. A new content in an effort to renew itself with the search for more accurate and affirmative information will enlighten our future.”

MUSLIMS ARE PASSING THROUGH HARD TIMES

Gormez has also mentioned that Islam and Muslims are passing through hard times and stated: “The violence, war, terror, conflict and chaos faced by the Muslims in different parts of world such as Syria, Iraq, Palestine-Gaza, Afghanistan and Myanmar-Arakan; constant destruction of Damascus, killed innocent people, the sufferings and all other events shake the Muslims and anyone with a sense of consciousness deeply. Overcoming this hard process experienced by the Muslim world, setting up an environment of peace, security and safety depend on the collaboration of all the Muslims, no matter what their languages, races, sects are or how distant they are; to follow the path of science and wisdom presented by Islam to the humanity, to re-facilitate peace, justice and mercy and to institutionalize it”.

ATTACK ON AL-AQSA WAS DONE ON ALL MUSLIMS

Gormez emphasized that the intervention and occupations to Al-Aqsa, the first kiblah of Islam, are unacceptable and he added: “The restriction on the freedom of Muslims to worship in this sacred place, the timely and spatial division plans of the prayer room are clear violation of human rights, freedom of religion and conscience and immunity of sacred places, which are among the common acquisitions of humanity. None of the Muslims in the world would accept any attempts on violations to Al-Aqsa. Al-Aqsa is the common and sacred value of all Muslims in the world; just like Mescid-i Haram and Mescid-i Nebevi. Jerusalem can never be thought without the existence of Muslims. Al-Aqsa can never be excluded from its identity as a sacred place of Muslims and the Harem region from its religious and moral status.”

HOSTILITY TO ISLAM IS BEING INSTUTIONALIZED

Gormez said that this is unacceptable and added: “These perceptions which are among the new forms of the traditional Orientalist thought are actually products of engineering about the hostility to Islam. Both the perceptions of Muslims and the public opinion are being manipulated and hostility to Islam is being instutionalized through refined methods and techniques”. Gormez also said: “The tensions which are ignited through Shiism and Salafism, interventions and searches which will turn the reality of Islam world are threatening the unity of ummah. A new content in an effort to renew itself with the search for more accurate and affirmative information will enlighten our future. Some religious currents that rely on sectarian and impellent interpretations are mobilizing their financial possibilities to the regions in Asia-Pacific islands to collect supporters from those regions instead of meeting the direct requirements of Muslims are acting non-ethical.

“COMMON STUDIES SHOULD BE CONDUCTED ON RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS”

Gormez said: “Within this framework; authentic religious sources, religious education, order of training scholars, religious services and system of religion and madrasah should be re-organized. In order to complete the missing parts in these areas and to meet the requirements and demands; the rich knowledge heritage of Islamic culture and civilization, the accumulation of Asia-Pacific countries in religion and science, the religious Acquis of Turkey and the experience of Religious Affairs Administration should be considered and common studies should be conducted on religious education and religious publications”.